Secured embedded data encryption systems

ABSTRACT

Devices generate security vectors based on their own attributes. A device&#39;s security vectors compose its transformation matrix. The devices securely share copies of their transformation matrices with other devices. A transmitting device adds its unique MAC to packets, encrypts those packets using its own transformation matrix, and transmits those packets. A receiving device uses its copy of the transmitting device&#39;s transformation matrix to decrypt the data in a packet, determining whether a MAC extracted from that packet matches the transmitting device&#39;s MAC. The receiving device can permit or prevent further processing of the packet&#39;s data depending on whether the MACs match. Each device can store a copy of a same program that can be used to derive derivative security vectors from existing security vectors. Each device in the network can derive the same set of derivative vectors for any selected other device in the network, thereby “evolving” the transformation matrices.

The present application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/780,527, filed Mar. 13, 2013,which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to securing communications within a groupof users. Communications are secured by encrypting data at a transportlayer and higher layers of a communications protocol using a unique setof security vectors and message authentication code associated with eachof the users and using a transformation matrix. Received encrypted datais first decrypted to provide decrypted data and a calculated messageauthentication code. The decrypted data is processed if the messageauthentication code of the transmitting user and the calculated messageauthentication code are equivalent.

BACKGROUND

Communications networks connecting mobile devices, personal computers,servers, mainframes, and other devices have become the accepted mode forcommunicating information between users. This can include anything frombasic sharing of photos to the sophistication and security required bylarge financial and banking institutions. It is increasingly moreevident that securing communications is just as important as getting theinformation to its intended recipient. There have been many attempts atsecuring information using various encryption schemes, hiding data inVPN tunnels, using third parties to authenticate the sender of data, andmany others. Although these methods work as long as they are configuredproperly, the inherent weakness lies in the actual personal interactionrequired to define the known security systems that are in use today. Thepersonal interaction adds inherent error and is ultimately the weakestlink in securing the communications. Another inherent weakness arisesbecause the vast majority of these measures are implemented usingsoftware solutions. Although a mathematically complex algorithm can beestablished such that breaking an encryption scheme becomes increasinglymore difficult, because current computer technology is continuallybecoming more efficient both in terms of speed and operating power itbecomes increasingly easier to break these encryptions. What took yearsbefore, now only takes months, and will eventually be able to be done indays, hours, minutes, or even just several seconds. Software-basedencryption methods are complex and therefore it is extremely difficultto detect all of the flaws, thereby leaving such encryption schemesvulnerable to compromise. Before information can be exchanged over asecured communications channel it is first necessary to establish themethod of encryption to be used at both ends of the channel. Otherwise,transmitted data will be unreadable by an intended recipient. In orderto accomplish secured communications, a communications channel mustshare an encryption key that can be used to encrypt and decrypt thedata. If the encryption key is not shared then the recipient will not beable to read the received data. It is also very important that the keyitself is kept secure. One such way is to share the key before anycommunication takes place, such as writing it down and hand it to theintended recipient. Alternatively, a different encryption method can beused to share the encryption key. This can be done, for example, byusing a Public/Private key pair in which two keys are used to enable thesecure communication. One key is kept secret, and never shared, whilethe other key is shared with everyone.

Current solutions to secure and authenticate communications over anetwork represent only short term solutions. To make communicationssecure using existing methods the encryption schemes must be constantlychanged or abandoned and replaced once they have become too easy tobreak.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment of the invention, each device of a pluralityof devices in a network maintains a unique message authentication code(MAC) that no other device in the network possesses. Each such devicealso generates at least one set of “seed” security vectors based onattributes and characteristics of that device and/or that device's user.Such attributes and characteristics can include, for example, biometricsof a user of the device and/or on a current global positioning system(GPS)-determined location of the device itself. Consequently, eachdevice maintains a unique set of security vectors that reflect itselfand no other device in the network. A unique set of security vectors ofa device make up that device's transformation matrix; the device'ssecurity vectors can form the rows or columns of its transformationmatrix, for example. After each device has generated its owntransformation matrix, the devices in the network can securely sharetheir transformation matrices with all of the other devices in thenetwork. As a result, each device stores a copy of each other device'stransformation matrix.

When a particular device needs to send data to another device securely,the transmitting device adds its own MAC to packets containing that dataand then encrypts those packets using its own transformation matrix as akind of encryption key. For example, the transmitting device can encryptmultiple Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) packets, on apacket-by-packet basis, which collectively contain the data. Thetransmitting device can then encapsulate the encrypted packets withinone or more other packets and transmit those packets over one or morenetworks to an intended receiving device.

Such a receiving device can de-encapsulate the encrypted packets and canuse its copy of the transmitting device's transformation matrix todecrypt the data in each received packet. The receiving device canextract a MAC from each such decrypted packet. The receiving device candetermine whether the extracted MAC matches the MAC of the transmittingdevice. If the MACs match, then the receiving device can conclude thatthe packet is authentic, and can permit downstream applications and/ordevices to utilize the data contained within the packet. Alternatively,if the MACs do not match, then the receiving device can conclude thatthe packet is not authentic, and can prevent downstream applicationsand/or devices from utilizing the data contained within the packet.

In one implementation, each device of the plurality of devicesadditionally stores a copy of an initialization program that can be usedto derive derivative security vectors from existing security vectors.Thus, by applying the program to a particular device's seed vectors, afirst derivative set of vectors can be produced. Similarly, by applyingthe program to such a first derivative set of vectors, a secondderivative set of vectors can be produced. Each device in the networkcan generate the same set of derivative vectors for any selected otherdevice in the network. Consequently, the devices can “evolve” the storedcopies of the transformation matrices of the other devices in thenetwork. The ever-changing nature of the transformation matrices makesthe security system dynamic and more difficult to compromise. Theedition of the transmitting device's transformation matrix that is usedto encrypt and decrypt packets at one moment in time can vary from theedition of the same transmitting device's transformation matrix that isused to encrypt and decrypt packets at another moment in time.

In a first aspect, a method of securing communications among a pluralityof devices comprising a group comprises storing a set of securityvectors for each of the plurality of devices, wherein the plurality ofdevices comprises a transmitting device and a receiving device; storinga message authentication code for each of the plurality of devices;encrypting, using a transformation matrix comprising a set of securityvectors of the transmitting device, both data to be transmitted by thetransmitting device and the message authentication code of thetransmitting device to provide both encrypted data and an encryptedmessage authentication code; transmitting the encrypted data from thetransmitting device; receiving the encrypted data by the receivingdevice; decrypting the encrypted data using the transformation matrixcomprising the set of security vectors of the transmitting device toprovide both decrypted data and an extracted message authenticationcode; comparing the stored message authentication code of thetransmitting device with the extracted message authentication code; andprocessing the decrypted data if the stored message authentication codeof the transmitting device is equivalent to the extracted messageauthentication code.

In a second aspect, a method of securing communications among aplurality of devices comprising a group comprises establishing a groupcomprising a plurality of devices, wherein each of the plurality ofdevices is characterized by a set of security vectors; and the pluralityof devices comprises a transmitting device and a receiving device;storing the set of security vectors for each of the plurality ofdevices; storing a unique message authentication code for each of theplurality of devices; encrypting, using a transformation matrixcomprising the set of security vectors associated with the transmittingdevice, both data to be transmitted by the transmitting device and aunique message authentication code of the transmitting device;transmitting the encrypted data from the transmitting device; receivingthe encrypted data at the receiving device; decrypting the encrypteddata using the transformation matrix comprising the set of securityvectors of the transmitting device to provide both decrypted data and anextracted message authentication code; storing a copy of the decrypteddata in a buffer; comparing the stored unique message authenticationcode of the transmitting device with the extracted messageauthentication code; and processing the decrypted data if the storedunique message authentication code of the transmitting device isequivalent to the extracted message authentication code.

In a third aspect, an encryption/decryption processor comprises astorage unit for storing a set of security vectors and a messageauthentication code for each of a plurality of devices; an encryptionunit for encrypting, using a transformation matrix based on a set ofsecurity vectors for a transmitting device, both data to be transmittedand a message authentication code of the transmitting device; adecryption unit for decrypting received data using a transformationmatrix of a transmitting device to provide both decrypted data and anextracted message authentication code; a comparison unit for comparingthe stored message authentication code of the transmitting device withthe extracted message authentication code; and a processing unit forprocessing the decrypted data if the stored message authentication codeof the transmitting device and the extracted message authentication codeare equivalent.

In a fourth aspect, a system for secured network communications within agroup comprising a plurality of devices and a network device comprises astorage unit for storing a unique set of security vectors and a messageauthentication code for each of a plurality of devices; an encryptionunit for encrypting, using a transformation matrix comprising a set ofunique security vectors of the transmitting device, both data to betransmitted by a transmitting device and a message authentication codeof the transmitting device; a decryption unit for decrypting transmitteddata using the transformation matrix of the transmitting device toprovide both decrypted data and an extracted message authenticationcode; a comparing unit for comparing the stored message authenticationcode of the transmitting device with the extracted messageauthentication code; and a processing unit for processing the decrypteddata if the stored message authentication code of the transmittingdevice and the extracted message authentication code are equivalent.

In a fifth aspect, a computer program product stored on a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium comprises computer-executableinstructions for causing a processor to store a set of security vectorsand a message authentication code for each of a plurality of devices;encrypt, using a transformation matrix comprising a set of securityvectors of a transmitting device, both data to be transmitted by thetransmitting device and a message authentication code of thetransmitting device; decrypt received data using the transformationmatrix of the transmitting device to provide both decrypted data and anextracted message authentication code; compare the stored messageauthentication code of the transmitting device with the extractedmessage authentication code; and process the decrypted data if thestored message authentication code of the transmitting device and theextracted message authentication code are equivalent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only. Thedrawings are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a physical implementation of aSecured Embedded System according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of a logical representation of aSecured Embedded System according to certain embodiments.

FIG. 3 shows a flow diagram of steps of methods for initializing andcommunication between end points in a Secured Embedded System.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram that illustrates an example of a technique forgenerating a transformation matrix and using that transformation matrixto encrypt packets containing a MAC, according to an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that illustrates an example of a technique fordecrypting packets based on a stored copy of a transmitting device'stransformation matrix and for authenticating the data within thosepackets based on a MAC of the transmitting device, according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a computer system that may beused in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference is now made in detail to embodiments of the presentdisclosure. While certain embodiments of the present disclosure aredescribed, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit theembodiments of the present disclosure to the disclosed embodiments. Tothe contrary, reference to embodiments of the present disclosure isintended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may beincluded within the spirit and scope of the embodiments of the presentdisclosure as defined by the appended claims.

A Secure Embedded System (SES) is presented as an integral part of asubsystem that attaches within a communications model, such as, forexample a typical seven layer OSI Model and is closely linked betweenthe bottom three layers of that model, namely the Network Layer, theData Layer and the Physical Layer. The SES is designed to provide anuninterruptable and secure communication channel between two or moredevices, devices, and/or nodes within a communications network such as acloud or web infrastructure that are defined by the SES JO boundary.Such devices, devices, and nodes can include, for example, computers,mobile devices such as smart phones, network routers, etc. As usedherein, the SES JO boundary, or SES boundary, refers to the boundarysurrounding the group of devices that all contain and use the SES. Thesecurity of the systems on which an SES is installed or implemented canbe achieved by encrypting the data that is transmitted between multipledevices. Any data that is received by a device within an SES boundarywill be scrutinized by the SES to check if it meets the requirements forbeing allowed into the system. The encryption performed by the SESprovides the ability to check the integrity and authenticity of datatransmitted from and received by a device within the SES. Each SES inthe network stores a set of parametric vectors that uniquely define thedevice in which the SES is embedded and is used to both encode anddecode data. The set of parametric vectors includes information thatuniquely identifies a particular SES. If data received by a particularSES does not meet the specified requirements, the data is not allowedinto the device being protected by the SES.

FIG. 1 shows a physical implementation of a SES according to certainembodiments. As shown in FIG. 1, an SES may be physically implementedbetween the physical interface of a device such as an IEEE 802.xinterface and other hardware of a device such as the CPU, memory,buffers, drivers, etc., on which it is installed. The SES shown in FIG.1 includes a transformation matrix configured to communicate with a keystorage space and security vectors that uniquely define a particularSES. The key storage space saves the unique keys or security vectors foreach of the devices within the network. The security vectors areconstructed from information such as location of the device determined,for example, using a GPS receiver; biometric information about a user ofthe device obtained, for example, using a biometric input device; atime/date stamp of the device, and/or other identifying information. Thetransformation matrix is constructed from the parametric securityvectors and forwarded to an arithmetic logic unit (ALU). In certainembodiments, the key storage space contains a separate security vectorfor each different type of information; such types of informationinclude biometric information, timestamp information, locationinformation, etc. Therefore, in certain implementations, the key storagespace can contain a vector generated based on biometric information,another vector generated based on timestamp information, another vectorgenerated based on location information, etc.

As shown in FIG. 1, data from the processor (CPU) can be processed by adynamic encryption processor using the transformation matrix to encryptdata to be transmitted. Conversely, data received through an externalcommunications interface (IEEE 802.x Standard Port) can be decrypted bythe dynamic encryption processor using the transformation matrix.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the logic representation of an SES.FIG. 2 shows an outline of the logic for communications based on the OSImodel and the TCP/IP model. However, other communication models can alsobe used. The SES can be logically embedded below the Transport Layer ofa communications model. The SES can encrypt/decrypt data at theTransport Layer and higher layers. For example, referring to the OSIModel, data can be encrypted/decrypted corresponding to the TransportLayer, the Session layer, the Presentation Layer, and the ApplicationLayer. Similarly, referring to the TCP/IP Model, data can beencrypted/decrypted corresponding to the Transport Layer and theApplication Layer. In certain implementations, logical layers beneaththe SES are not encrypted/decrypted. For example, referring to the OSIModel, data corresponding to the Network Layer, the Data Link Layer, andthe Physical Layer are not encrypted/decrypted; and for the TCP/IP Modeldata corresponding to the Internet Layer and the Network Interface Layerare not encrypted/decrypted. Other layers may be included in anyparticular communications model.

FIG. 2 also shows an expanded representation of the TCP/IP Protocolsuite and indicating in greater detail certain protocols that can beencrypted/decrypted by the SES.

According to an embodiment of the invention, a communications network tobe secured can be initially identified. The network includes at leasttwo devices or may include a plurality of devices. A device includes anyphysical device such as, for example, a computer, main frame, server,portable electronic device, personal digital assistant, and others. Incertain embodiments, an SES may not be physical implemented on a devicebut may reside in a separate unit or device that is shared among otherdevices within a network such as, for example, a router or a server.Each of the devices within the network may include a physicalimplementation of an SES or an SES may be located at a local device,common device, central device, or at multiple distributed devices.Examples of networks include local area networks at branches of a bankor offices of a law firm; virtual private networks (VPNs); wide areanetworks; the Internet; etc.

All devices and/or SES group members within a secured network can bepreconfigured to be unique for a particular group. Each member of anetwork to be secured can share the common preconfigured features ofun-initialized security vectors, known media access control addressesstored in non-volatile memory, an embedded operating system, and aproprietary routing protocol used for communication between SES devices.The media access control addresses can be used to generate a uniquemessage authentication code (MAC) associated with the device or devicein which the media access control address is embedded.

Each device has a unique set of dynamic security vectors that uniquelydefine a particular device. The security vectors can include informationabout, for example, location, user identity, time/date information,clock information, and/or others. The security vectors can be used toencrypt/decrypt data packets. The security vectors can bemultidimensional and exist in a parametric vector space that uniquelyidentifies every device within a network This includes, for example, ageo-physical location of every device within the network, biometricinformation (fingerprint, voice, image, etc.) of a user of a particulardevice, and the time/date stamp as referenced by a device within anetwork. These inputs can be transformed to an n-dimensional vectorspace that uniquely defines unique and dynamic keys or set of securityvectors used to encrypt/decrypt data using a transformation matrix. Thesecurity vectors are dynamic in that they are periodically calculatedand updated.

To establish the secured network, the set of security vectors for eachof the devices within the secured network can be first shared among thedevices and stored. The settings can be first preconfigured and thesecurity vectors initialized and stored in non-volatile memory. Thesecurity vectors can be periodically updated. The security vectors canalso be associated with the corresponding Internet Protocol (IP) addressof the nodes or devices to which they pertain. All future communicationsbetween devices within the network or group will use the respectivesecurity vectors to encrypt data and to authenticate communications. Incertain implementations, each device within the secured network beginswith an original set of “seed” security vectors that are unique to thatdevice and which that device generates itself. Each device securelytransmits its seed security vectors to each other device within thesecured network. These other devices receive and store these seedsecurity vectors. Consequently, each device in the secured networkinitially stores a copy of the seed security vectors of each of theother devices within the network.

In certain embodiments, each device in the secured network can alsostore a copy of a program that can be used to generate a set ofderivative vectors based on a set of seed vectors. Because each devicestores a copy of the same generation program, the application of thatgeneration program to a particular set of seed vectors produces aparticular set of derivative vectors regardless of which device in thenetwork applies the program. Thus, each device in the secured networkcan apply the same generation program to a particular device's seedsecurity vectors to produce a same first set of derivative vectors forthat particular device. The generation program can be applied to a firstset of derivative vectors to produce a second set of derivative vectors.Over time, at each device in the secured network, the set of vectorscorresponding to other devices in the network can be evolvedcongruently, such that each device ends up producing the same set ofderivative vectors for a particular device, and different sets ofderivative vectors for different devices. At any given moment in time,each device in the secured network will store the same set of derivativevectors for a particular device, and this set of vectors will evolve inthe same manner over time at each device in the network.

In certain embodiments, additionally or alternatively, devices in thenetwork periodically can generate new seed vectors based on informationpotentially changed from original information that served as the basisfor former seed vectors generated by those devices. For example, as timepasses, or as a particular device moves from location to location(thereby changing its GPS coordinates), the information that a deviceuses to generate at least some of its seed vectors can change.Consequently, when the devices in the secured network generate new seedvectors, these new vectors can vary from the seed vectors that thosedevices previously generated. As before, with each new generation ofseed vectors, each device in the secured network can securely share itsseed vectors with each other device in the secured network, so that eachdevice in the network stores a copy of each other device's seed vectors(and the various devices' transformation matrices composed from thosevectors).

At a transmitting device, both data to be transmitted and the messageauthentication code associated with the transmitting device, whichcollectively may be in the form of a vector, can be encrypted using theusing a transformation matrix such as a linear transformation matrix toprovide encrypted data. In certain embodiments, a transmitting devicecan encrypt data by multiplying its own transformation matrix by thedata that is to be encrypted. The transmitting device's transformationmatrix is made up of that transmitting device's own set of vectors(initially its own seed vectors, but later its own derivative vectors astime passes). In certain implementations, a transmitting device canencrypt data by performing a series of logical “OR” operations betweeneach of the vectors in its own transformation matrix and the data to beencrypted, such that the output of one logical operation can be used asthe input for a next logical operation in the series, ultimatelygenerating the encrypted data.

As disclosed herein, data corresponding to the Transport Layer and abovefor a particular communications protocol can be encrypted. In certainimplementations, a transmitting device divides the data to be encryptedinto separate payloads, and places such payloads into separate datapackets. The transmitting device encrypts each data packet separately.In certain implementations, a transmitting device derives a differentset of its own security vectors for each such separate data packet; as aresult, each such data packet is encrypted based on a different set ofderived security vectors. The encrypted data, but not the securityvector used to encrypt the data, is transmitted to a receiving device. Acopy of the received encrypted data can be stored in a buffer anddecrypted using the receiving device's copy of the transformation matrix(and constituent security vectors) associated with the transmittingdevice. The receiving device can derive the same transformation matricesof the transmitting device that the transmitting device derived. Thereceiving device can use these derived transformation matrices of thetransmitting device to decrypt the packets received from thetransmitting device. A copy of the decrypted data can then be stored ina buffer at the receiving device.

In certain embodiments, a transmitting device places its own unique MACinto each packet to be transmitted prior to encrypting that packet. TheMAC can be placed into a field of a packet header prior to encryption,appended to the payload of the packet prior to encryption, or embeddedor interleaved within the data to be transmitted, for example. Toauthenticate the transmission, following packet decryption, the MAC ofthe sending or transmitting device can be compared with the MACextracted from the decrypted packet on the receiving device. If the MACof the transmitting device and the extracted MAC match, then it isdetermined that the sender is authentic and that the data are authentic.If the data are authentic, then the receiving device can permitapplications executing on the receiving device, or downstream of it, toprocess that data. Alternatively, if the data are not authentic, thenthe receiving device can prevent such applications from processing thatdata; the receiving device can erase the data from its buffer withoutmaking that data available to those applications.

In certain embodiments, the data can be divided into multiple packetsand encrypted and decrypted on the basis of multiple packets. Dependingon the level of security desired, the size of the data segmentsencrypted/decrypted with a particular transformation matrix and insertedMAC may vary and may be established when the SES is initialized or maybe dynamically changed as determined by a user or by an administrator oron the basis of the content of the data being transmitted.

To add a level of dynamic key generation, the time/date vector can bebased on an internal clock that is unique to the set of SES and will beupdated based on a predefined increment/decrement parameter of theclock. Each SES can be synchronized with respect to the clock that isused to encrypt data, allowing for slight variances among devices withinthe network.

FIG. 3 shows steps in methods for secured communications provided by thepresent disclosure. A network or group to be secured using methods andapparatus provided by the present disclosure is first defined. Thenetwork to be secured may comprise a plurality of devices, devices, orusers. During the initialization process, settings for each devicewithin a secured system are established or preconfigured. The settingsinclude, for example, the dynamic security vector and the MAC for eachdevice. The dynamic security vectors and the MAC can then be shared witheach device or user within the group using an encryption schemeproprietary to the group. Subsequent communications between or amongmembers of the group can use dynamic security vectors to encrypt data,decrypt data, and authenticate communications.

A communications process is also summarized in FIG. 3. At a transmittingdevice, data to be transmitted can be encrypted on a packet by packetbasis using the dynamic security vectors and data in a transformationmatrix. The MAC, which can be unique to each device within the group, isinserted into the data to be encrypted. The MAC is encrypted along withthe data to be transmitted. The MAC can be a unique vector associatedwith the hardware such as the processor on which the method isimplemented. The encrypted data and MAC can then be transmitted to areceiving device over a network such as the Internet. A receiving devicereceives the encrypted data and the encrypted data is decrypted using atransformation matrix comprising the dynamic security vectors and MAC ofthe transmitting device to provide decrypted data and a calculated MACof the transmitting device. As disclosed herein, the receiving devicecan derive various editions of the transmitting device's transformationmatrix using a program commonly possessed by the transmitting andreceiving devices; the receiving device can apply the program to thereceiving device's copy of the transmitting device's seed vectors aspecified quantity of times (e.g., based on a current clock) to derivethe correct edition of the transmitting device's derived vectors todecrypt the received packets, for example. A copy of the decrypted datacan be stored in a buffer. The MAC of the transmitting device can thenbe compared to the MAC extracted from the decrypted packet. If the MACof the transmitting device and the extracted MAC are equivalent then thedecrypted data can then be released from the buffer and sent forprocessing by the receiving device or application executing thereon, ortransmitted on to a further destination for processing (e.g., if thereceiving device is a router). For example, if the decrypted data areTCP packets and if the receiving device is a router, then that routercan forward those decrypted TCP packets on toward an intendeddestination. Alternatively, if the MAC of the transmitting device andthe extracted MAC do not match, then the decrypted data is not processedand may be flushed from the buffer.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram that illustrates an example of a technique forgenerating a transformation matrix and using that transformation matrixto encrypt packets containing a MAC, according to an embodiment of theinvention. In block 402, a transmitting device generates a vector basedon user attributes. For example, the vector can be generated based onbiometric information of the device's user. In block 404, thetransmitting device generates a vector based on the transmittingdevice's current location. For example, the location can be determinedusing GPS. In block 406, the transmitting device composes its owntransformation matrix from the vectors. In block 408, the transmittingdevice shares its own transformation matrix with other network devices.In block 410, the transmitting device receives and stores transformationmatrices of other network devices. In block 412, the transmitting deviceinserts its own MAC into each packet to be transmitted. In block 414,the transmitting device applies a program to its own transformationmatrix to derive separate derivative transformation matrices for eachpacket to be transmitted. In block 416, the transmitting device uses theseparate derived transformation matrices to encrypt the separate packets(e.g., TCP packets) to be transmitted. In block 418, the transmittingdevice encapsulates the encrypted packets within other packets. In block420, the transmitting device transmits these other packets overnetwork(s) toward an intended receiving device.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram that illustrates an example of a technique fordecrypting packets based on a stored copy of a transmitting device'stransformation matrix and for authenticating the data within thosepackets based on a MAC of the transmitting device, according to certainembodiments. In block 502, a receiving device receives encapsulatingpackets from the transmitting device over network(s). In block 504, thereceiving device de-encapsulates encrypted packets from theencapsulating packets. In block 506, the receiving device applies aprogram (i.e., a copy of the same program used in block 414 of FIG. 4)to its stored copy of the transmitting device's transformation matrix toderive separate a derivative transformation matrix for each encryptedpacket. In block 508, the receiving device uses the separate derivedtransformation matrices to decrypt separate encrypted packets; thereceiving device may use a different transformation matrix per encryptedpacket to decrypt that packet. The operations of blocks 510-516 can beperformed per each decrypted packet, but are discussed in the context ofa single such packet for sake of simplicity. In block 510, the receivingdevice extracts a MAC from a decrypted packet. In block 512, thereceiving device determines whether the extracted MAC matches thetransmitting device's MAC. If so, then control passes to block 514.Otherwise, control passes to block 516. In block 514, the receivingdevice allows further processing of the data contained in the decryptedpacket. Alternatively, in block 516, the receiving device preventsfurther processing of the data contained in the decrypted packet.

The systems and methods for securing communications disclosed hereinprovide the following advantages: (1) leverages current methodologies toutilize aspects that are known to work and improve and/or replace othersthat do not; (2) transparent implementation to the user of the systemand does not require any configuration by the user to make the systemsecure; (3) the method is independent of the operating system; (4) thesecurity provided by the SES cannot be accessed by outside sources; (4)all information encapsulated by the transport layer and above of apacket is encrypted/decrypted; (5) a unique set of parametric securityvectors for each device is used to encrypt/decrypt data; and (6)encryption/decryption keys are not transmitted after the secured networkis established.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may be implemented on a computersystem. The user interfaces described herein may be implemented within acomputer system. A computer system may be implemented as any of variouscomputing devices, including, e.g., a desktop or laptop computer, mobiledevice, tablet computer, smart phone, phone, personal data assistant(PDA), multimedia device (e.g., television or Blu-Ray player) or anyother type of computing and/or telecommunications device, not limited toany particular form factor. A computer system can include processingunit(s), a storage subsystem, input devices, output devices, a networkinterface, and a bus.

FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of a computer system 600 that maybe used in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.Computer system 600 can include the SES shown in FIG. 1. Computer system600 is shown comprising hardware elements that may be electricallycoupled via a bus 624. The hardware elements may include one or morecentral processing units (CPUs) 602, one or more input devices 604(e.g., a mouse, a keyboard, etc.), and one or more output devices 606(e.g., a display device, a printer, etc.). Computer system 600 may alsoinclude one or more storage devices 608. By way of example, the storagedevice(s) 608 may include devices such as disk drives, optical storagedevices, and solid-state storage devices such as a random access memory(RAM) and/or a read-only memory (ROM), which can be programmable,flash-updateable and/or the like.

Computer system 600 may additionally include a computer-readable storagemedia reader 612, a communications subsystem 614 (e.g., a modem, anetwork card (wireless or wired), an infra-red communication device,etc.), and working memory 618, which may include RAM and ROM devices asdescribed above. In some embodiments, computer system 600 may alsoinclude a processing acceleration unit 616, which can include a digitalsignal processor (DSP), a special-purpose processor, and/or the like.

Computer-readable storage media reader 612 can further be connected to acomputer-readable storage medium 610, together (and, optionally, incombination with storage device(s) 608) comprehensively representingremote, local, fixed, and/or removable storage devices plus storagemedia for temporarily and/or more permanently containingcomputer-readable information. Communications system 614 may permit datato be exchanged with a network and/or any other computer described abovewith respect to a system environment.

Computer system 600 may also comprise software elements, shown as beingcurrently located within working memory 618, including an operatingsystem 620 and/or other code 622, such as an application program. In anexemplary embodiment, working memory 618 may include executable code andassociated data structures used for encrypting and decrypting data. Itshould be appreciated that alternative embodiments of computer system600 may have numerous variations from that described above. For example,customized hardware might also be used and/or particular elements mightbe implemented in hardware, software (including portable software, suchas applets), or both. Further, connection to other computing devicessuch as network input/output devices may be employed.

Processing unit(s) can include a single processor, which can have one ormore cores, or multiple processors. In certain embodiments, processingunit(s) can include a general purpose primary processor as well as oneor more special purpose co-processors such as graphics processors,digital signal processors, or the like. In certain embodiments, some orall processing units can be implemented using customized circuits, suchas application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) or fieldprogrammable gate arrays (FPGAs). In certain embodiments, suchintegrated circuits execute instructions that are stored on the circuititself. In certain embodiments, processing unit(s) can executeinstructions stored in storage subsystem.

A storage subsystem can include any combination of computer readablestorage media including semiconductor memory chips of various types(DRAM, SRAM, SDRAM, flash memory, programmable read-only memory) and soon. Magnetic and/or optical disks can also be used. In certainembodiments, a storage subsystem can include removable storage mediathat can be readable and/or writeable; examples of such media includecompact disc (CD), read-only digital versatile disc (e.g., DVD-ROM,dual-layer DVD-ROM), read-only and recordable Blu-Ray® disks, ultradensity optical disks, flash memory cards (e.g., SD cards, mini-SDcards, micro-SD cards, etc.), magnetic “floppy” disks, and so on. Acomputer readable storage media do not include carrier waves andtransitory electronic signals passing wirelessly or over wiredconnections.

In certain embodiments, a storage subsystem can store one or moresoftware programs to be executed by processing unit(s), such as a userinterface. Software can refer to sequences of instructions that, whenexecuted by processing unit(s) cause a computer system to performvarious operations, thus defining one or more specific machineimplementations that execute and perform the operations of the softwareprograms. The instructions can be stored as firmware residing inread-only memory and/or applications stored in magnetic storage that canbe read into memory for processing by a processor. Software can beimplemented as a single program or a collection of separate programs orprogram modules that interact as desired. Programs and/or data can bestored in non-volatile storage and copied in whole or in part tovolatile working memory during program execution. From a storagesubsystem, processing unit(s) can retrieve program instructions toexecute and data to process in order to execute various operationsdescribed herein.

Certain embodiments include electronic components, such asmicroprocessors, storage and memory that store computer programinstructions in a computer readable storage medium. Many of the featuresdescribed in this specification can be implemented as processes that arespecified as a set of program instructions encoded on a computerreadable storage medium. When these program instructions are executed byone or more processing units, they cause the processing unit(s) toperform various operation indicated in the program instructions.Examples of program instructions or computer code include machine code,such as is produced by a compiler, and files including higher-level codethat are executed by a computer, an electronic component, or amicroprocessor using an interpreter.

A computer system can have other capabilities not specifically describedhere (e.g., mobile phone, global positioning system (GPS), powermanagement, one or more cameras, various connection ports for connectingexternal devices or accessories, etc.). Further, while computer systemis described with reference to particular blocks, it is to be understoodthat these blocks are defined for convenience of description and are notintended to imply a particular physical arrangement of component parts.Further, the blocks need not correspond to physically distinctcomponents. Blocks can be configured to perform various operations,e.g., by programming a processor or providing appropriate controlcircuitry, and various blocks might or might not be reconfigurabledepending on how the initial configuration is obtained. Embodiments ofthe present invention can be realized in a variety of apparatusincluding electronic devices implemented using any combination ofcircuitry and software.

Thus, for example, certain embodiments provided by the presentdisclosure provide a computer program product stored on a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executableinstructions for causing a processor to: store a unique set of securityvectors for each of a plurality of devices; encrypt data to betransmitted by a transmitting device using the unique security vectorfor a receiving device using a transformation matrix; decrypttransmitted data using the unique security vector of the receivingdevice using a transformation matrix to provide decrypted data;re-encrypt the decrypted data using the unique security vector of thereceiving device using a transformation matrix to provide re-encrypteddata; compare the encrypted data with the re-encrypted data; andprocesses the decrypted data if the encrypted data matches there-encrypted data.

Finally, it should be noted that there are alternative ways ofimplementing the embodiments disclosed herein. Accordingly, the presentembodiments are to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive.Furthermore, the claims are not to be limited to the details givenherein, and are entitled their full scope and equivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of securing communications among aplurality of devices Comprising a group, wherein the method comprises:storing a transformation matrix comprising a set of security vectors foreach of the plurality of devices, wherein the plurality of devicescomprises a transmitting device and a receiving device; storing amessage authentication code for each of the plurality of devices;encrypting, using the transformation matrix comprising the set ofsecurity vectors of the transmitting device, both data to be transmittedby the transmitting device and the message authentication code of thetransmitting device to provide both encrypted data and an encryptedmessage authentication code; transmitting the encrypted data from thetransmitting device; receiving the encrypted data by the receivingdevice; decrypting the encrypted data using the transformation matrixcomprising the set of security vectors of the transmitting device toprovide both decrypted data and an extracted message authenticationcode; comparing the stored message authentication code of thetransmitting device with the extracted message authentication code; andprocessing the decrypted data if the stored message authentication codeof the transmitting device is equivalent to the extracted messageauthentication code; wherein the set of security vectors for each of theplurality of devices comprises vectors comprising information selectedfrom a geo-physical location of a device, biometric information of auser of a device, a time/date stamp associated with a device, and acombination of any of the foregoing.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinencrypting data comprises encrypting data at a transport layer andhigher layers of a communications model.
 3. A method of securingcommunications among a plurality of devices comprising a group, whereinthe method comprises: establishing a group comprising a plurality ofdevices, wherein each of the plurality of devices is characterized by aset of security vectors; and the plurality of devices comprises atransmitting device and a receiving device; storing a transformationmatrix comprising the set of security vectors for each of the pluralityof devices; storing a unique message authentication code for each of theplurality of devices; encrypting, using the transformation matrixcomprising the set of security vectors associated with the transmittingdevice, both data to be transmitted by the transmitting device and aunique message authentication code of the transmitting device;transmitting the encrypted data from the transmitting device; receivingthe encrypted data at the receiving device; decrypting the encrypteddata using the transformation matrix comprising the set of securityvectors of the transmitting device to provide both decrypted data and anextracted message authentication code; storing a copy of the decrypteddata in a buffer; comparing the stored unique message authenticationcode of the transmitting device with the extracted messageauthentication code; and processing the decrypted data if the storedunique message authentication code of the transmitting device isequivalent to the extracted message authentication code; wherein theunique set of security vectors for each of the plurality of devicescomprises vectors comprising information selected from a geo-physicallocation of a device, biometric information of a user of a device, atime/date stamp associated with a device, and a combination of any ofthe foregoing.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein encrypting datacomprises encrypting data at a transport layer and higher layers of acommunications model.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein encrypting datacomprises embedding the unique message authentication code of thetransmitting device in the data to be encrypted and encrypting the datato be transmitted and the embedded unique message authentication code.6. The method of claim 3, comprising deleting the stored copy of thedecrypted data if the unique message authentication code of thetransmitting device is not equivalent to the extracted messageauthentication code.
 7. The method of claim 3, wherein storing theunique set of security vectors for each of the plurality of devicescomprises storing a unique IP address.
 8. The method of claim 3,comprising sharing the unique set of security vectors for each of theplurality of devices among each of the plurality of devices within thegroup.
 9. An encryption/decryption processor, comprising: a storage unitfor storing a transformation matrix comprising a set of security vectorsand a message authentication code for each of a plurality of devices; anencryption unit for encrypting, using the transformation matrix based onthe set of security vectors for a transmitting device, both data to betransmitted and a message authentication code of the transmittingdevice; a decryption unit for decrypting received data using atransformation matrix of a transmitting device to provide both decrypteddata and an extracted message authentication code; a comparison unit forcomparing the stored message authentication code of the transmittingdevice with the extracted message authentication code; and a processingunit for processing the decrypted data if the stored messageauthentication code of the transmitting device and the extracted messageauthentication code are equivalent; wherein the set of security vectorsfor each of the plurality of devices comprises vectors comprisinginformation selected from a geo-physical location of a device, biometricinformation of a user of a device, a time/date stamp associated with adevice, and a combination of any of the foregoing.
 10. The processor ofclaim 9, wherein encrypting data comprises encrypting data at atransport layer and higher layers of a communications model.
 11. Asystem for secured network communications within a group comprising aplurality of devices and a network device, wherein the network devicecomprises the encryption/decryption processor of claim
 9. 12. The systemof claim 11, wherein encrypting data comprises encrypting data at atransport layer and higher layers of a communications model.
 13. Acomputer program product stored on a non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium comprising computer-executable instructions for causing aprocessor to: store a transformation matrix comprising a set of securityvectors and a message authentication code for each of a plurality ofdevices; encrypt, using the transformation matrix comprising set ofsecurity vectors of a transmitting device, both data to be transmittedby the transmitting device and a message authentication code of thetransmitting device; decrypt received data using the transformationmatrix of the transmitting device to provide both decrypted data and anextracted message authentication code; compare the stored messageauthentication code of the transmitting device with the extractedmessage authentication code; and process the decrypted data if thestored message authentication code of the transmitting device and theextracted message authentication code are equivalent; wherein the set ofsecurity vectors for each of the plurality of devices comprises vectorscomprising information selected from a geo-physical location of adevice, biometric information of a user of a device, a time/date stampassociated with a device, and a combination of any of the foregoing. 14.The computer program product of claim 13, wherein encrypting datacomprises encrypting data at a transport layer and higher layers of acommunications model.
 15. The computer program product of claim 13,wherein the instructions cause the processor to: derive a derivative setof security vectors corresponding to the transmitting device based on aseed set of security vectors corresponding to the transmitting device;wherein the transformation matrix comprises the derivative set ofsecurity vectors; encrypting a first packet based on a first derivativeset of security vectors corresponding to the transmitting device; andencrypting a second packet based on a second derivative set of securityvectors corresponding to the transmitting device; wherein the firstderivative set differs from the second derivative set.
 16. The computerprogram product of claim 15, wherein the instructions cause theprocessor to: process the seed set of security vectors using a programpossessed by each device of the plurality of devices to produce aderivative set of security vectors.
 17. The computer program product ofclaim 13, wherein the set of security vectors for a particular device ofthe plurality of devices comprises at least one security vector that theparticular device generated based on one or more attributes of a user ofthe particular device.
 18. The computer program product of claim 13,wherein the set of security vectors for a particular device of theplurality of devices comprises at least one security vector that theparticular device generated based on a current location of theparticular device ascertained using a global positioning system.